Equity in education: giving young learners the best career chances

The world of work is changing. It's predicated that one in 16 workers may have to switch occupation by 2030. Technological advances, high-skills job growth, an aging population, and investment in the green economy, are all factors creating a demand for new skills and job roles. Career paths are no longer set in stone.

To secure a sustainable future, it’s imperative that today’s pupils – those soon to be entering the employment market – have the knowledge and professional dexterity needed to fulfil the jobs of tomorrow. However, barriers such as restricted funding, administrative burden, and placement availability reduce the prospect of offering young learners equal insights into modern workplaces and career pathways.

How, then, do schools provide all their students access to the future world of work? Closer collaboration with businesses may provide the answer. By fostering greater relationships with employers, it’s possible to improve access to professional pathways and spur social equity.
 

Overcoming barriers with greater employer connections

It’s believed that work experience and careers education could directly influence young people’s employment opportunities and social mobility – yet it’s not a level playing field. Schools and teachers must balance multiple responsibilities; not least continuing to close the learning gap following extended periods of online teaching. This often leaves little room for dedicated jobs guidance, and careers education is an inconsistent picture across the country. The reliance on students finding their own careers experience only exacerbates employment inequity, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds potentially being less likely to secure meaningful placements.

With the theme for this year’s National Careers Week (NCW) being ‘empowering positive change through careers education’, we’re taking the opportunity to showcase how employers can empower young learners and enable better futures. Through Inspire – our free-of-charge learning programme – we’ve partnered with industry-leading employers to provide a window into the world of work, and drive employment equity across the UK.
 

Educating for green careers

Sustainability and social equity will only grow in importance, and delivering students practical insights regarding their influence on the world of work should be a priority. However, a recent survey revealed that more than half (57%) of young people aged between 15 to 18 have not been given guidance on green job options at schools. While the Government’s climate change curriculum strategy for schools sets an important precedent, employers play a vital role in helping the next generation transition towards an increasingly green job market.

Vistry Group, one of the country’s leading homebuilders, works with our linked schools to address preconceptions about the construction industry, while showcasing how sustainable practices and social value are shaping the future of development. This includes dedicated sustainability lessons examining how to operate as an environmentally conscious business; from leveraging the latest technology to drafting biodiversity action plans.

Of course, sustainable practices are nothing without the people who can make them happen. The lessons feature video insights from two Vistry Group employees, who share their own unique career pathways and prior experiences.
 

Sustainability careers – real-life examples

Emma, a sustainability manager, walks through the academic route she took – from GCSEs to post graduate studies – and how the skills she developed along the way helped support her career progression. Students can also learn from Lee, a site manager, who explains how he transitioned from the Army to his current role.

A representative from Vistry Group said: “[We’re] delighted to be involved in Inspire to add to pupils’ learning and offer career insight into the housebuilding industry. We feel it is important to inform students as early as possible of the wide range of roles in the industry and the importance of diversity and inclusion.

With acute skills shortages across the engineering industry, it’s more important than ever to promote the skills required for future careers, break down misconceptions, and increase awareness regarding the diversity of engineering career pathways. Amey, a leading infrastructure services and engineering company, has offered young learners a valuable perspective into an industry that’s often misunderstood.

Across three interactive lessons, Amey reveal their job application process, what they look for in prospective employees, and how they develop their young talent to provide early careers opportunities. Adding much-needed context to students’ current studies, Amey also highlights how their educational journey can link to everyday tasks in their career.

By focusing on young employees currently working at Amey, students who might not have contacts in the engineering world are able to get first-hand insights into potential career pathways.

Rachael, a graduate civil engineer, discusses the A-levels that helped prepare her for the future, and the relevancy of literacy – even in a technical role like her own. She also reflects on how work experience in hospitality and retail helped develop her communication skills and confidence, along with the best ways to maximise your time during a graduate scheme.

Even if engineering is not on a student’s radar, there’s a wealth of practical careers knowledge to be gleamed. Highlights include: exploring the advantages of part time work whilst studying; what work experience involves and why it’s beneficial; the differences between office, hybrid, and operational job types, as well as the importance of wellbeing in the workplace.

By discovering how people from different backgrounds can reach equally rewarding careers, students can envisage how their own interests and educational journeys could match up to future jobs prospects. Rather than focusing solely on technical expertise, Vistry and Amey underline how skills and passions can be developed to progress future careers, and ultimately, achieve job satisfaction.
 

Inspiring the future workforce

Careers education shouldn’t be a burden, but a vital way of putting learning into context. Through Inspire, we’re providing teachers the resources needed to deliver informative and realistic insights into career pathways. This service is free for all schools, granting more young learners the right to critical careers insights – no matter their location or personal circumstances.

Inspire is designed to help your school achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks and deliver effective, unbiased information to pupils on their post-16 opportunities. And with comprehensive guidance notes, video content and student worksheets, the resources are accessible, and easily differentiated for a range of learners.

Alongside our partnerships with Amey and Vistry Group, we work closely with a variety of other industry-leading employers committed to a sustainable future – including Bupa, Computacenter, and Mercedes-Benz – offering varied and highly-relevant careers knowledge. The possibilities for schools are far-reaching; support Year 6 groups’ transition to Secondary school with a broadened careers awareness, equip Year 9 students with the knowledge to navigate GCSE choices and work experience applications, or provide Year 10/11 with valuable careers advice straight from top employers.

There’s much ground to be covered in removing inequity from career starting points. But by fostering a collaborative approach between educators and organisations, it’s possible to equip every student with the knowledge they need to make informed choices and realise their future ambitions.  

To get started with Inspire and begin empowering future careers, fill out our enquiry form today.